The average rent in the Tarragona administrative division increased by 11.86% over the past year, reaching 8.95 euros per square metre in July 2026, according to the monthly rental price report by property portal pisos.com.

This marks the largest annual rent increase among Catalonia’s four provinces, despite Tarragona remaining the most affordable region in the autonomous community for rentals. By contrast, Barcelona recorded a lower interannual rise of 4.6%, with rents averaging 16.82 euros per square metre across Catalonia.

Tarragona city also saw the highest monthly rent growth among Catalan capitals in July, rising 0.34% from June. Barcelona, meanwhile, experienced a slight monthly decline of 0.51%.

Pressure on housing supply drives competition

We’re talking about many flats that will benefit people, but they might not reach the market for two, three, four or five years.

Ferran Font, director of studies at pisos.com, attributed the rising pressure on rents to growing demand and shrinking availability. He noted that potential renters now face stronger competition, shorter decision windows, and stricter access conditions.

Font also commented on recent transfers of nearly 2,000 former Sareb properties to the Catalan government, calling them significant but cautioned that many units require repairs or refurbishment before becoming habitable. The properties are part of a wider national plan to transfer 40,000 homes and 2,400 plots from Sareb to Sepes, the new state housing agency, to expand affordable rental stock.

  • Tarragona remains the cheapest province in Catalonia for renting
  • Rent up 11.86% year-on-year, fastest pace in the region
  • Barcelona rents fell slightly month-on-month despite high averages
  • New public housing expected, but entry into market may take years

According to official figures, municipalities receiving the most transferred units include Calafell, Tarragona and El Vendrell, with properties spread across around 90 towns. A formal protocol detailing responsibilities for renovations is expected soon between the Catalan government and Spain’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda.

Reported by Josep Maria Casas, diaridetarragona.com, Redacción, diarimes.com, radio onda cero, El Periódico, Lluís Pellicer, Paula Solanas Alfaro, Idealista, Web Financial Group, S.A, precioalquiler.com, Laura Casserres Capdevila, reusdigital.cat.